The Dangers of Relying on AI for Medical Advice: A Cautionary Tale
- cindysolki1
- Oct 9
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 15
It had to happen sooner or later. People using online automated services would eventually ask Chat GPT or other AI auto-bots for medical advice that would endanger their health or worse.
The articles above detail the case of a 60 year old man who wanted to reduce his salt intake, so he asked Chat GPT for advice. Chat GPT apparently indicated that he could swap out sodium chloride (NaCl, otherwise known as table salt), for sodium bromide (NaBr), which is unfit for human consumption and is currently only approved for use in outdoor pools and for sanitation systems.
The result? The poor guy presented at hospital three months later with hallucinations and psychotic behaviour, the result of a syndrome called "bromism", which is caused by overconsumption of bromide. Bromides used to be a class of anti-psychotic medications, but they have been discontinued precisely because of their tendency to cause mental health complications. He spent three weeks in hospital.
The pitfalls of using Chat GPT or Dr. Google for medical information are numerous and potentially dangerous. They are obvious to health professionals but not as clear to laypeople who are just in search of some decent advice.
Here's why you should NEVER rely solely on internet sources for your medical advice:
They are not verified - you can never know if the information you find is true or accurate, unless you can trace it back to factual research.
They are not certified - is there a health professional behind what you are reading or watching? Do you know who they are? If you trace their profile do you find a real human behind it?
They don't know you or your health status - general advice can be good for the many but may not be good for you specifically. For example, did you know that if you are on medications there may be a number of supplements you shouldn't take?
Dr. Google wouldn't know that, but your health practitioner should.
They don't care about you - this may not seem important, but it is. Health care and medical advice should never be dispensed in a vacuum. You should get to know your health care practitioner and trust them. It is the gateway to better wellbeing.
Healthcare providers and medical practitioners go to school for a reason. We are taught and trained to treat and heal PEOPLE. Not conditions. Not diseases. YOU.
So please, the next time you want to improve your health by cutting out salt, or are thinking about adding a supplement to help with brain fog, or have a nagging symptom that just won't go away, reach out to your doctor or to someone like me - you'll be glad you did.
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